Srinagar, Oct 23 (KNS): Days after seven civilians were killed in an explosion at a gunfight site in Laroo area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, the mainstream political parties, Valley traders and lawyers Tuesday staged protest against the Kulgam killings to condemn the incident.
The Srinagar city remained busy with the protests since the morning against the Civilian killings in Kulgam that took place on Sunday morning after an explosive shell went off at encounter site in Laroo that also witnessed the killing of three local JeM militants.
National Conference (NC), a mainstream political party led by its General Secretary and MLA Khanyar, Ali Muhammad Sagar carried out a protest rally from Nawa-e-Subh headquarters to Raj Bhavan Srinagar.
Senior party leaders including NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Mustafa Kamal, Akbar Lone, Sakeena Itoo and others were also present in the rally.
The protesters amid slogans against the killings tried to march towards the Raj Bhawan but police intercepted them on way at Radio Kashmir and detained scores of party activists and workers.
The party condemned the Kulgam incident and demanded an immediate end to the killings in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Police today foiled the protest marches of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) against the Kulgam killings.
KCCI Secretary General, Farooq Amin said the KCCI members were prevented from proceeding towards Lal Chowk.
“Despite strict restrictions, a large number of members of the Chamber participated in the protest march. The protest was led by Senior Vice President, Nasir Hamid Khan,” he said. The members, however, held their sit-in at Regal Chowk.
Kashmir Traders and Manufacturing Federation (KTMF) headed by Muhammad Yasin Khan staged a sit in protest at Regal Chowk here against Kulgam killings on Sunday.
Khan along with scores of KTMF members held a sit in at Regal Chowk and chanted slogans in favour of freedom.
They said that the civilian killings in Kashmir are going unabated and these killings must be stopped immediately.
Besides, another faction of KTMF headed by Bashir Ahmad Rather also staged a protest against the civilian killings outside Srinagar’s Press Enclave here.
The protesters led by Rather also held absentia prayers for the slain persons who were killed in Kulgam on Sunday.
Chanting slogans, the protesting traders questioned how long the civilian killings will continue in Kashmir.
Besides, Bar Association Anantnag has also staged a protest against the civilian killings at the main town.
Condemning the killings, the lawyers pitched for the initiation of dialogue process for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Earlier, seven civilians were killed after an explosive shell went off at a gunfight site in Laroo village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district after the encounter between militants and forces ended that left three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants dead. (KNS)